For manatee lovers the world over, Dolphin Discovery is thrilled to announce its newest program in Cozumel: the Manatee Encounter. The Manatee Encounter was added in 2010 and is truly a one of a kind adventure AND the only swim with manatees program in the Caribbean.

Manatees are beautiful and enormous creatures that in ancient times wereonce thought by sailors to be mermaids. Even though manatees are consider one of the gentle giants of the sea, they can grow to be as long as 13ft/4m and weigh up to 1300 lbs/600 kgs!

So bring the family to live the experience of swimming with manatees in the paradise of Chankanaab National Park in Cozumel where you will be surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna with vistas of the turquoise sea. Submerse yourself in the underwater world of the manatee, share a kiss and a hug and even feed these magnificent creatures while swimming with them in their home in the sea. You and your family will create memories for a lifetime and share a magical time with these manatees.

Dolphin Discovery Cozumel is located in Chankanaab National Marine Park. As well as offering world class diving and snorkeling from a pristine beach, this beautiful park houses a variety of birds, the sea lion show, a botanical garden, reproductions of famous archeological sites, a typical Mayan village, an underground river, a tropical lagoon teeming with brightly colored tropical fish, restaurants and bars as well as a dive shop and Sea Trek helmet diving. So you will definitely want to allow time to enjoy the park either before or after your dolphin activity.

Activity Specifics

Name:

Cozumel Manatee Encounter

Provider:

Dolphin Discovery

Includes:

Cozumel's Chankanaab National Park entrance fee is included for those participating in the Manatee Encounter program.

Chankanaab admission rate for companions or without manatee program purchase is US$ 21 for adults and US$ 14 for kids (3yo to 11yo). Prices subject to change without notice.

Total Time:

45 minutes (including orientation)

Amenities:

Chankanaab Park opens at 9:00am EST and closes at 4:30pm EST (Island Time)Pool, lockers, showers and restrooms are available.Food and beverages available for purchase in restaurants.Snorkel and water sports equipment is available for rental.

AGE & HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS:Adult = More than 4 ft 7 in & 13 years old or moreChild = 3 ft 11in to 4 ft 7 in & 6 to 12 years old

SUPERVISION: Children 6 - 12 years old must participate with a paying adult (per child) as a companion in the activity.

HEALTH & SAFETYPregnant women may not participate in any of the dolphin or sea lion programs.All dolphin activities are safe and interactive but require physical involvement by participants.Participants should be in good general health and able to understand and follow directions as given by the dolphin trainers.Those who have undergone a recent surgery or suffer from any condition that may limit them physically (i.e. back surgery) should check with their physician before proceeding to make a reservation.Life vests are provided and mandatory for every participant.

Special:

Persons Requiring Special AssistanceEvery effort is made to accommodate clients with special needs and requiring assistance. However, please contact us directly prior to making a booking in order to clarify the nature of the assistance required and to ensure that such needs can be met.

Just got back from our cruise and wanted to let you know how much fun we had at Chankanaab Park. My daughter, Emily, had the most wonderful dolphin experience and the $2.00 off coupon for me to get into the park worked like a charm. And, your confirmation email telling us about getting to the park was very helpful. Thank you for the experience! This was well organized and an absolutely perfect day in Cozumel for us! We (the old ladies in my family) are coming back in February, I'll be sure to connect with you again as we'll do the dolphin swim with you again. The Kershek Family ~ Wisconsin

Two friends and I booked the dolphin swim AND got the manatee encounter for 15 minutes for thru Cozumel Insider. The manatee was FREE. The price, including the park, was only $88 when booked in advance. The park fee alone is $21...that's $77 PP for both a dolphin swim with about 11 others, incl. 4 children, AND the manatee. Our party of 3 were the only ones to get the manatee and she was a highlight of our trip. We got to feed her lettuce for almost 15 minutes as the guide explained her life to us. We are grateful for both experiences at such a great price. Thanks, Sherri. I can see where it's harder to find your story on your site. Can you repost it? It's very unusual and inspirational to others. Cheryl & Michael, MA C. Pimental ~ Hingham, MA

Thank you so much for helping me book this experience. I am so excited to go. I went swimming with the dolphins in the Bahamas but I never went swimming with the sea lions. I really appreciate you helping me book this. J. McCredo ~ Unknown

My husband and I had the "BEST" time at your park. The dolphin encounter was truly amazing! We can't wait to come back and let our children experience it. It is on the top of our "to do" list with our children. Thanks for the exceptional hopitatily! S. and R. Ketron ~ Cincinnati, OH

Sherri ~ I just wanted to pass along a huge THANK YOU for the dolphin excursion I booked through you in Cozumel for last Wednesday. The experience was something I will remember for a lifetime. Besides my friend and myself, there were only two other participants in our group so the dolphin trainer gave us extra time in the water. GREAT PICTURES were taken of the whole experience!!!!!!! Actually, a few people I spoke to when I got back on the cruise ship booked their excursion through Carnival directly and paid more $$$$ for less time in the water with the dolphins ( no swim, push off, etc). Again, thank you for everything....... D Garrett ~ not given